San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-03-03
Temperance and Prohibition.
Cantinnld from lN Paqe.


M la disobedience, with no restraint upon
his passions, will find certain destruction IN
drink. For such youth hell is but step
from tho first glass. And "woe be unto
him that putteth the bottle to his lips"
What would We think of the engineer up
ON whose clear head and brave heart we de-
pend for our lives, or the physician IN
whose calm nerve and unclouded Judgment
rests our hope for the life OF loved one,
should no swallow one drop OF poison while
on dutyY May not every man become un.
faithful TO his duty-recreNnt 10 sacred
trust-from the effects OF little too much
liquor while on dutyg -.
As u rule, men who drink ardent spirits
fail in life. Every man who drinks WINS
Ky cripples his powers and limits his posi-
bilitios of achievement, Many who drink
nre stronger and better than many who do
not drink, but every one who drinks at all,
is nevertheless weaker and worse than he
would be if he did not habtually swallow
poison. Men of strong will and moral fac
ulties, who have been disciplined by good,
strong mothers, rarely drink, and more rarely
still to excess. We may observe in every
community that almost all the strongest men
arc temperate. The rule becomes absolute
when we raise the standard TO include such
NJ are strong and successful in spiritual life
The chances for success are much greater
for the total abstuiner. Other things being
equal, his services are preferred by en-
ployer, client, patron and customer,
Many LIQUOR makers and sellers are wise
enough to be total abstainers, anc all OF
them prefer to employ total abStainers to
handle their cash and care for their prop
crty interests. :,
Most young men would never touch IL
quor after seeing representation or the
abnormal conditions of liquor deluged
stomach. liver and kidneys. One of the
most powerful temperance movements Is
the introduction into our schools OF the
physiological and hygienic branches, show
ing the evil effects of liquor upon the
health and efficiency of the vital organs, as
we'll as the character.
In A practical economical point of view,
no man dependent upon his present ener-
pies can afford to drink. No one has
moral or social right to impoveash himself
ut the expense OF society, even by lndulg-
ence in harmless habit Many a family is
forced by its head to endure the agonies of
destitution that he may poison his stomach
and craze his brain with liquor.
We often hear popular fallacy: III
Won don't touch liquor, or don't abuse it,
Yourself, it wont hurt you. But what does
the blood of the murdered wives, children,
and neighbors of the Incorporate cry IN
orr ears? What does the tax-collector tell
us about the costs of sherffs, prisons and
prosecutors? What do our benevolent So
cieties tell us? That nine-tenths of the
restitution of helpless children and women
is caused by intemperance of the men.
That most of the moral woes and tinancl-
nj burdens now distressing the virtuous and
innocent members of society, the people
who build churches schoolhouses and asy-
lums who support the destitute, poor, aged
and sick recipients of charity, are caused
bv the man who touches liquor and abuses
if. L;uuor hurts every temperate man,
every wom.n, every child, and it hurts
badly. If the people knew how badly the
liquor drinker hurts them financially, as
well as morally, they would quickly put
liquor out of his reach forever
liquors not only contain the poison
alcohol-but other destructive elcme nts
such rs fusl oil and ether which add great
" to their deleterious and deadly effects.
They are also adulterated not only with
harmless ingredients but with the most dead
" chemical and natural poisons. When the
alcohol in them is reduced by water
pungency. or 'bte," must be produced by
more violent poisons.
Authorizations are most unfortunately
sanctioned by the corrupt ethics OF trade:
When thew cannot be readily detected and
the profits resulting from them are large
they become the rule in every tral1c, as
honest dealers cannot compete WIN the
dishonest. We have lately witnessed the
practical destruction of the butter trade IN
the United States, by aduteration with
foul and nameless product, which has Eeen
called oleomargarine. Some OF the otateS
wisely prohibit oleomargarine factories, ana
the evil will never be overcome until they
MI do the Same. You know your butter IS
pure when you make It youself, and SO Win
Your liquor ,,,
There are also great many humbugs and
swindles in the liquor trade, and the poor
misguided liquor-drinker often pays twenty
times the value of the poison he swallows,
and thinks himself too smart to be imposed
unon. There is certain weakness, or
virtue. or call it what you will, in human
nature, that causes n man to over value that
which he uses, and to regard his taste or
Judgment as superior to that of others. LII
Guor men understand this principle and
cater to it and prey upon it.
was once with firm of the highest
standing. who, at the cost of few cents
per gallon, manipulated lot OF whisky
costing 81 .25 at the distillery, and sold 1T
to first class saloons and crack social
clubs in Southern cities, at from $40 to Sl4
per gallon, where it was dispensed to and
swallowed with gusto as a choice article by
mon who prided themselves on being
connoisseurs. l was connected with an
other firm of equally high standing who
watcred liquors. Out of compassion to Ne
croes aud poor Irishmen [ approved this
process when applied to rectitied whisky or
rot. gut" rs it is appropriately called, but L
Thought it a gross outrage to reduce the
proof of fine goods sold in round lots at
profit of IL so to $500 per gallon.
The head of this firm was pillar in the
leading Presbyterian church. few years
afterwI,rd ! learned that he had joined the
Euisc lpal church, and wondered II that
meant more water in the whisky. VI the
first mentioned firm the two members were
active church -mon-one being an EplSco-
nolian and the other Presbyterian
limitations of genuine liquors are very eX-
tensively sold upon false representations
For instance apple, peach and Freneh
bnndics, Irish and Scotch whiskieS' GIN
and rum. all costly goods when genuine
and SOiu NJ euuIluou9 liNA'''
initiated with ordinary spirits. tinotureS,
Hoynring extracts and softeninG ingredients,
so as to deceive almost any taste.
As to the purity of liquors the wholesale
dealer takes the flimsy assurance OF the
manufacturer, the retailer has TO look to
the wbo'esa dealer. and the consumer l.
at the mercy Of all three. A large LOT OF
imported French wine was recently CON
iemned by the health authorities OF the CITY
of New York for being poisoned with sal
icylic acid. ,s,-,--
last year the people Of the United Sta'es
paid $50. eco, 00o for hqaor poison hat
nntoli c-i,ue. vice aud poverty, what in